Prison break in eastern Congo frees 250 inmates

Prison break in eastern Congo frees 250 inmates

GOMA, Congo (AP) - A justice official says more than 250 inmates, including many ex-combatants, were freed when gunmen attacked a prison in eastern Congo.

Lidia Masika said Tuesday that the gunmen killed a prison guard and an inmate who refused to go with them during the attack in the town of Beni, which occurred early Monday morning.

She could not identify the armed group behind the attack. She said it was the second time in the past year that the prison in Beni had been attacked and hundreds of prisoners freed.

Eastern Congo is routinely destabilized by various armed groups. Last month, Beni was attacked by members of one of the local militia groups known as Mai Mai. The army repulsed that attack, killing 24 militiamen while losing four soldiers.